Pope puts out the welcome mat--sort of
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
TechnoratiOne of the pope's nicer expressions from his trip to Lourdes has been turned around in a bit of a challenge to him. Arguing for a greater welcome for Catholics who want to celebrate Mass in Latin, the pope said: "Everone has a place in the church, every person without exception should be able to feel at home and never rejected."
St. Mary's Parish in South Brisbane, Australia has taken the pope at his word. The parish is known for welcoming gay and lesbian Catholics and their families and has provoked controversy with its "gender neutral" liturgies, including baptizing children in the name of the "maker, redeemer, and sustainer." According to Queensland Pride, a local gay and lesbian newspaper, St. Mary's unfurled a banner invoking the pope's quote as support for their inclusive attitude.
I actually had a similar reaction when I first read what Benedict said at Lourdes: I couldn't agree more, Holy Father, but the vast majority of people who feel excluded at church aren't looking for Latin Mass. Many are seeking healing after divorce and want to remarry (or already have). Gay and lesbian Catholics don't want to give up on their church home but find being labelled as "intrinsically disordered" too much to bear. How do we extend Christ's welcome to all our sisters and brothers, who are, after all, already fully initiated members of the church?
Comments (3)
Gratuitous Bash at Latin Mass
By John Powers (not verified) on Tuesday, October 14, 2008Bryan,
Your smack at the Latin Mass is totally uncalled for and has no place in a Catholic Magazine. There are certainly a good number of people out there who want to go to Latin Mass. Why mock them?
JBP
Mocking those who want Latin Mass?
By Bryan Cones on Wednesday, October 15, 2008John, I don't see how a fair reading of my post would see it as "mocking" people who want the Latin Mass. My point is that there are other, larger groups of Catholics who also feel unjustly excluded from the life of the church who also deserve the pope's pastoral care.
Sinful behavior not welcome
By Kaylan (not verified) on Tuesday, October 7, 2008The pope's words are to welcome all, not sinful behavior. Those who are willfully changing Church teaching to suit their own desires (such as gay couples who wish to live in a lifestyle that is contrary to Catholic teaching) are not following the Church to begin with. The pope's message was directed at everyone so that they are welcome to embrace Christ's teachings. If they do not, they are obviously following sin and not Jesus.
This does not mean they are excluded. Jesus will continue to call to those who are outside Church teaching and hope they will return to Him. What we see in these parishes that defy Church teaching are people who think they are following Christ but in truth, have abandoned the Church and His teachings and are merely following their OWN WAY. That is a deception which, unfortunately, many people are falling into.
Perhaps if they read their Scriptures and sat in private prayer more, they would be able to see the Truth again. We must pray for those who are blind to such things and hope they return to Christ.